Tab printing in a network controller

ABSTRACT

Architecture for providing tab printing for a computer platform. A text data stream is generated and transmitted from the computer platform to a print controller, which text data steam includes tab information. The text data stream is parsed at the print controller to extract the tab information. A tab image file of the tab information is created from the tab information at the print controller. A face file is created from the tab image file, ad forwarded to a peripheral output device, where the peripheral output device processes the face file to output a tab document having the tab information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention is related to tab printing, and more particularlyfor providing tab printing capability for both UNIX and Apple® computerplatforms by utilizing a platform-compatible text file in a printlanguage format that allows an intermediary print controller to outputan associated image file to facilitate the output of tab documents by aperipheral output device.

[0002] Rapid technological advances in features addressing variousdocument output formats provided by network peripheral devices isoutpacing the operability with many of the mainstream computerplatforms. New peripheral engines now provide the capability of printingon tab paper, thus interspersing the various tabbed documents throughouta document compilation as the compilation is being printed. Computerplatforms based upon the Windows® operating system by MicrosoftCorporation can use the functionality incorporated through the Windowsprinter driver. However, users of a UNIX or an Apple® platform do nothave a mechanism by which to use this enhanced feature of the peripheralengine.

[0003] What is needed is a way for both UNIX and Apple clients toutilize the functionality provided for managing tab text.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspectthereof, comprises architecture for providing tab printing for acomputer platform. A text data stream is generated and transmitted fromthe computer platform to a print controller, which text data steamincludes tab information. The text data stream is parsed at the printcontroller to extract the tab information. A tab image file of the tabinformation is created from the tab information at the print controller.A face file is created from the tab image file, ad forwarded to aperipheral output device, where the peripheral output device processesthe face file to output a tab document having the tab information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] For a more complete understanding of the present invention andthe advantages thereof, reference is now made to the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

[0006]FIG. 1 illustrates a system block diagram of the platformindependent implementation, according to a disclosed embodiment;

[0007]FIG. 2 illustrates a flow chart of the process for creating thetab text; and

[0008]FIG. 3 illustrates a representation of an internal tab documentimage and corresponding tab output document, according to a disclosedembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The disclosed architecture solves the aforementioned problem byimplementing the tab-printing feature in a print controller such that aUNIX platform and an Apple platform can take advantage of tab printingcapabilities.

[0010] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a system blockdiagram of the platform independent implementation, according to adisclosed embodiment. As illustrated, the system 100 includes a network102 having disposed thereon a UNIX client 104 and an Apple client 106.The network 102 can be any conventional wired or wireless networkincluding, for example, Ethernet, Token Ring, etc., over whichcommunication is provided. The system 100 also includes a printcontroller 108 disposed on the network 102 for processing print commandsin accordance with the disclosed novel architecture. The system 100 alsoincludes a peripheral output device 110, for example, a network printeror a network multi-function output device (that provides faxingscanning, printing, etc.), to which print commands are sent to effecthardcopy output. Note that although the print controller 108 is shown asan external node on the network 102, it is appreciated that the printcontroller 108 can be suitably designed as an add-in board to theperipheral output device 110, such that the print commands are sentdirectly to the peripheral output device 110 for processing by the nowinternal print controller card.

[0011] The print controller 108 is configured to accept a number ofdifferent types of print job files, but in particular, a text file witha “Tab Print” option set in PJL (Printer Job Language) comments.However, all print jobs arriving at the print controller areinterrogated for the “Tab Print” option. The use directs the print jobto the printer controller, as is typically done for a print job. The PJLcomments contain all of the tab information details needed to output oneor more tab documents 112. The print controller 108 parses the tabinformation from the PJL comments, and using an imaging library (e.g.,Lead Tools made by Lead Technologies), creates tab image information 107using the tab text caption and the body text, according to the tabinformation specified in the PJL comments. The tab image information 107is then overlaid onto corresponding face files 109 (a file where theimage has now been rasterized), and printed, as is illustratedhereinbelow in FIG. 3.

[0012] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a flow chart of theprocess for creating the tab text. Flow begins at a function block 200where a user of either the UNIX client 104 or the Apple client 106invokes a print function. The PJL file is then created with theappropriate tab information comments contained therein, and transmittedin a text data stream to the print controller 108. Flow is then to afunction block 202 where the client transmits the text data streamcontaining the PJL comments to the print controller 108. The printcontroller 108 then parses the PJL file from the data stream, asindicated in a function block 204. In a function block 206, the tabimage file 107 is then created by a print processor of the printcontroller 108, which tab image file 107 contains tab informationcomprising the tab text caption and body text for the tab document(s)112. The print controller 108 then creates face files 109 from the imagefiles 107, and queues the face files 109 for output to the printerengine of peripheral output device 110, as indicated in a function block208. In a function block 210, the print controller 108 sends the facefiles 109 to the printer engine of the peripheral output device 110. Theprinter engine of peripheral output device 110 then prints the facefiles 109 onto the hardcopy medium of the tab document 112, as indicatedin a function block 212. Flow then reaches a Stop terminal.

[0013] A utility with a graphical user interface takes the followinginputs, generates all the PJL comments, and saves those comments to atext file. The utility is an executable file that may be launched orinvoked by typing the file name on the operating system shell. Inputs toor user selections of the utility include the following: Paper Size:LT/A4; Tab Paper Type: 5 Tabs/8 Tabs; Tab Position: 1-5/1-8; Tab CaptionText; Tab Caption Font Name/Style/Size; Tab Body Text; Tab Body FontName/Style/Size; and Tab Body Orientation.

[0014] A sample text file with PJL comments follows showing the “TabPrint” option set, and including at least one full set of tabinformation for a first tab document 112 (i.e., associated with theTABPOSITION=1 code) in the format of PJL comments, and the start of asecond tab document 112 (i.e., associated with the TABPOSITION=2 code).

[0015] _%-12345X@PJL JOB NAME=“TabPrint”

[0016] @PJL COMMENT DSSC PRINT TABPAPERSIZE=LT

[0017] @PJL COMMENT DSSC PRINT TABPAPERTYPE=8

[0018] @PJL COMMENT DSSC PRINT TABPOSITION=1

[0019] @PJL COMMENT DSSC PRINT TABCAPTION=“POLICIES”

[0020] @PJL COMMENT DSSC PRINT TABCAPFONT=“Times”,“Bold”,8

[0021] @PJL COMMENT DSSC PRINT TABBODY=“POLICIES”

[0022] @PJL COMMENT DSSC PRINT TABBODYFONT=“Times”,“Italic”,24

[0023] @PJL COMMENT DSSC PRINT TABPOSITION=2

[0024] . . . and so on.

[0025] As indicated hereinabove, once the print controller 108 receivesthe PJL input, it parses the PJL comments from the data stream toextract all of the tab information. Using the Lead Tools library, theprint controller 108 generates an image file with the tab caption andtab sheet main body text at a predetermined position, which positiondepends on the output tab document 112 paper size, paper type (e.g.,five tabs or eight tabs) and tab position (one through five or onethrough eight, depending on the paper type).

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a representation ofan internal tab document image 300 and corresponding tab output document302 (similar to tab document 112), according to a disclosed embodiment.As indicated hereinabove, the PJL comments define the placement of tabcaption text image 304 and body text image 308 on the internal tabdocument image 300. The tab image information 107 comprises both the tabcaption text image 304 for a tab portion area 306 of the tab documentimage 300, and the main body text image 308 for a main body portion 310of tab document image 300. As illustrated, the main body text image 308is represented by the term “Policies” placed substantially in the centerof the tab document image 300. In this particular embodiment, the mainbody portion 310 is defined as an area bounded by a dotted line 311 thatseparates the tab portion 306 and the main body portion 310, and theremaining three sides of the tab document image 300.

[0027] The tab document image 300 is illustrated as a size comparable tothe size of the tab output document 302 for discussion purposes, suchthat positioning of the tab text image 304 in predetermined locationsalong the tab portion area 306 facilitates printing of a correspondingtab output text 312 at an associated first tab caption location 313 onthe tab output document 302. Thus the tab caption text image 304 isprinted in a corresponding first tab caption location 313 on the taboutput document 302. Similarly, the main body text image 308 of the tabdocument image 300 is printed in a corresponding output document mainbody location 314 of the tab output document 302.

[0028] Where a number of tab output documents 302 with differing tabinformation is desired, additional tab image documents 300 (in thisembodiment, four additional tab images documents denoted as having tabslabeled #2-#5) including additional tab text caption images 316 (thetext images of #2, #3, #4, and #5) are defined, with corresponding tabtext 318 (the text of #2, #3, #4, and #5) on the tab output documents302 (associated with the four tabs denoted as #2, #3, #4, and #5).

[0029] Note that the disclosed architecture is not restricted for use inan external network-based device (i.e., the print controller 108), butcan be designed into an add-in card that is suitably adapted for usewithin the UNIX-based platform or the Apple-based platform, thusalleviating the need for the network-based print controller.

[0030] Alternatively, the disclosed architecture of the print controllercan be designed into the communication interface of the printer (e.g.,via an add-in card) such that the external network-based printcontroller is not required. Thus the now internalized print controllerfunctionality interrogates the incoming text data streams to filter androute the UNIX-based or Apple-based print communications wherein thedisclosed architecture operates to provide the desired tab documentoutput at the stipulated peripheral output device.

[0031] Still alternatively, it is appreciated that the peripheral outputdevice may be connected directly to, for example, the UNIX-basedplatform, such that when the user directs tab information in the form ofthe PJL comments to the peripheral output device, the tab information,as embedded in the text data stream, is captured and redirected over thenetwork to the print controller 108. The parsing and resulting face fileis then transmitted back from the print controller 108 to the UNIX-basedplatform where it is sent to the engine of the peripheral output devicefor generation of the tab document.

[0032] Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail,it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, andalterations can be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of providing tab printing, comprisingthe steps of: transmitting a text data stream from a computer platform,which text data steam includes tab information; parsing the text datastream to extract the tab information; creating a face file from the tabinformation; and processing the face file at a peripheral output deviceto output a tab document having the tab information.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising the step of generating the text data streamat the computer platform for transmission to a remote controllerdisposed on a network, wherein at least one of the steps of parsing andcreating is performed by the remote controller.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein the tab information in the step of transmitting is associatedwith a plurality of print job comments structured in the format of aprinter job language that defines a plurality of tab documents to beoutput by the peripheral output device.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the text data stream in the step of transmitting is developedutilizing a utility in which a user of the computer platform inputs thetab information.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer platformis at least one of a UNIX-based platform and an Apple-based platform. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein the face file in the step of creatingincludes at least one of tab caption text and tab body text that isplaced on the tab document by the peripheral output device.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the computer platform transmits the text datastream to a print controller, which print controller creates the facefile from a tab image file in the step of creating, and forwards theface file to the peripheral output device which is a printer, whereinthe printer processes the face file to output the document having thetab information.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the text data streamis a text file that includes an enabled tab print option, which enabledtab print option is in a comments format of a printer job language. 9.The method of claim 1, wherein the text data stream is a text file thatincludes an enabled tab print option, which enabled tab print option isdetected to cause the peripheral output device to output a tab documenthaving the tab information.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the textdata stream includes an enabled tab print option that is transmitted toand detected by an intermediate controller, in response to which theintermediate controller creates the face file therefrom, and forwardsthe face file to the peripheral output device to be processed in thestep of processing.
 11. A method of providing tab printing, comprisingthe steps of: transmitting a text data stream including tab informationfrom a computer platform to a print controller; parsing the text datastream at the print controller to extract the tab information; creatingfrom the tab information a tab image file; generating a face file fromthe tab image file; forwarding the face file to a peripheral outputdevice; and processing the face file at the peripheral output device tooutput a tab document having the tab information.
 12. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the tab image file includes image informationrepresentative of at least one of tab caption text and tab body text.13. The method of claim 11, wherein the computer platform is at leastone of a UNIX-based platform and an Apple-based platform.
 14. The methodof claim 11, wherein the tab information in the step of transmitting isassociated with a plurality of print job comments structured in theformat of a printer job language that defines a plurality of tabdocuments to be output by the peripheral output device.
 15. A method ofproviding tab printing, comprising the steps of: transmitting a textdata stream of tab information from a computer platform to a printercontroller; interrogating the text data stream at the printer controllerto detect a tab print option; if detected, parsing the text data streamat the print controller to extract the tab information; creating fromthe tab information at the print controller a tab image file of tabimage information; generating a face file from the tab imageinformation; forwarding the face file to a peripheral output device; andprocessing the face file at the peripheral output device to output a tabdocument having the tab information.
 16. A system of tab printing,comprising: a controller disposed on a network for receiving a text datastream that includes tab information, wherein the controller parses thetext data stream to extract the tab information, and creates a face filetherefrom; and a peripheral output device for processing the face fileto output a tab document having the tab information.
 17. The system ofclaim 16, wherein the text data stream is generated at a network client,and transmitted to the controller.
 18. The system of claim 16, whereinthe tab information is associated with a plurality of print job commentsstructured in the format of a printer job language that defines aplurality of tab documents to be output by the peripheral output device.19. The system of claim 16, wherein the text data stream is developedutilizing a utility in which a user of the network client inputs the tabinformation.
 20. The system of claim 16, wherein the network client isat least one of a UNIX-based platform and an Apple-based platform. 21.The system of claim 16, wherein the tab information includes at leastone of tab caption text and tab body text that is placed on the tabdocument by the peripheral output device.
 22. The system of claim 16,wherein the controller creates an image file of the tab information fromwhich the face file is created, and forwards the face file to theperipheral output device which is a printer, wherein the printerprocesses the face file to output the document having the tabinformation.
 23. The system of claim 16, wherein the text data stream isa text file that includes an enabled tab print option, which enabled tabprint option is in the format of comments of a printer job language. 24.A system of tab printing, comprising: a controller disposed on a networkfor receiving a text data stream that includes tab information, whereinthe controller interrogates the text data stream to detect a tab printoption; and if detected, performs the steps of parsing the text datastream to extract the tab information, creating an image file of the tabinformation, generating a face file from the image file, and forwardingthe face file, and a peripheral output device for receiving theforwarded face file, and processing the face file to output a tabdocument having the tab information.
 25. The system of claim 24, whereintab print option is in a comments format of a printer job language. 26.The system of claim 24, wherein the controller receives the text datastream from a network client that is at least one of a UNIX-basedplatform and an Apple-based platform.